Soap bar



July 7, 1959 E. M. MQ 2,893,960

SOAP BAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 27, 1954 I I I BY Zdkrd/Z/Zc/Vaily (41075610. 682, 0mm Cw-73W ATTQRNEB E. M. M NALLY July 7, 1959 SOAP BAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 27, 1954 ATTORNEY5 SOAP BAR Edward M. McNally, Red Hook, N.Y., assignor to Voorhis-Tiebout Co., Incorporated, Red Hook, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application September 27, 1954, Serial No. 458,575, now Patent No. 2,792,863, dated May 21, 1957. Divided and this application December 17, 1956, Serial No. 628,924

3 (Claims. (Cl. 252134) This application relates to a soap bar of novel configuration for use in dispensers of the type disclosed and claimed in my copending application for US. Letters Patent, Serial No. 458,575, filed September 27, 1954, now Patent No. 2,792,863, of which this application is a division. Such dispensers comprise, as their essential components, a casing dimensioned to receive a bar or slab of soap and a rotary cutter positioned in the casing for engagement with the lower end of the bar, by means of which the bar is shredded, the soap particles or granules thus produced being discharged through an opening in the bottom of the casing. The soap bar is commonly pressed downwardly against the cutter by spring pressure. I

The dispenser casing and/or associated elements are formed to provide an inwardly projecting, V-shaped structure, so as to accommodate only bars of soap having a deep V-shaped-groove in one face thereof, an arrangement which possesses a number of outstanding advantages. Thus the provision of the groove facilities drying of the soap bar, which is important in order that the shredding operation may be effectively carried out to produce fine particles or powder. Second, the arrangement prohibits the use in the dispenser of bars of soap which are not so specially formed with the V-shaped groove, and thus prevents the use of soap which is not adequately dehydrated, or which is otherwise unsuitable for the purpose.

The outstanding advantage, however, resides in the fact that the soap bar may be guided in its downward movement by the cooperation-of the V-shaped structure in the casing with the Vshaped groove in the soap bar, thus permitting greater tolerance in the outer dimension of the bar, and even allowing for the usein the dispenser of bars of distinctly different dimension, if desired.

Dispensers relying solely on the guiding action of such a V-shaped structure do not, however, invariably effect feedingof the soap bar downwardly against the cutter with such precision that the last portion of the bar be shredded is presented. to the cutter in proper alignment. Feeding'of'theremnantof the bar at a slight angle to the cutter occasionally causes breaking of the last remaining wafer of soap into fragments, so that the entire bar is not efficiently shredded and powdered.

As taught in by copending application, this defect may be avoided by providing, in addition to the V-shaped structure at one side of the casing, engaging in a corresponding groove in the soap bar, guide means associated with the opposite side of the casing to guide the soap bar in a straight path downwardly against the cutter. Said guide means comprises a pair of substantially vertical parallel ribs projecting inwardly of the casing for reception in correspondingly shaped, parallel recesses in and extending lengthwise of the soap bar. The ribs, which are preferably substantially rectangular in horizontal section, and the V-shaped projection project inwardly in a direction transverse of the axis of the rotary i States Patent 9 cutter, it being found that the failure to feed the bar correctly is due to the tendency of the soap bar to cant or rock in a vertical plane parallel to the cutter axis as the cutter is rotated, the direction of canting of thebar depending upon the direction of rotation of the cutter.

The primary object of the present invention the provision of a soap or detergent bar for use in dispensers of the type described, the bar being of generally rectangular outline, having in one face a V-shaped groove of substantial depth for coaction with the V-shaped structure within and at one side of the casing, and having in its opposite face a pair of parallel recesses, spaced and dimensioned to receive the ribs within and at the opposite side of the casing. The parallel recesses are preferably of substantially less depth than'the V- shaped groove; both the shallow recesses and the V- shaped groove of greater depth extend over the entire length of the sides of the bar in which they are formed.

In the interest of completeness, both the dispenser and the improved soap bar are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a soap dispenser embodying the principles of the invention, a lower front cover section of the casing being removed to show the cutter;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 22. of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation showing the inside of the upper front cover section of the casing;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the inside of the rear section of the casing;

Figures 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on the lines 6-6 and 7-7, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a soap bar formed to provide the recesses hereinbefore described, and suitable for use in the illustrated dispenser.

In order to promote an understanding of the invention, reference is made hereinafter to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings and specific language is used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be appreciated that no limitation of the scope to the invention is thereby intended, such further modification and alterations being contemplated as fall within the appended claims. It will also be understood that when reference herein is made to soap, the term is intended to include synthetic detergents in bar form and other equivalent compositions, the use of which is facilitated by shredding or flaking.

The casing of my dispenser is preferably formed of one of the many materials commonly referred to as plastics; thermoplastic or thermosetting resins capable of being readily molded, for instance, the phenolic condensation product known as Bakelite, are quite suitable. However, the instant invention is not primarily concerned with the material of which the casing is formed; less suitable material, such as light metal, may be employed if desired. To facilitate manufacture and assembly of the casing, and to render the interior of the casing readily accessible, it is made in separable parts comprising, in the preferred embodiment, a rear section 1, a lower front half section or cover 3, forming part of the cutter chamber, and an upper front section or removable door 37. Holes 2 in the rear of section 1 permit fastening the dispenser by screws or bolts to the face of a wall or other vertically extending supporting surface. The front sections 3 and 37 are provided with inwardly extending flanges 5 which interlock with the front edge of the peripheral wall of the rear casesection to relate and position the several sections properly, the lower cover section 3 being secured to the rear section line 3-3 of by removable screws or bolts received in apertures 4 in the cooperating sections.

The upper front section 37 has no permanent connection to. the other sections of the casing, but is provided at itslower peripheral edge with a flange 35 engaging within the'upper peripheral edge of the lower front section, and near .its upper end with flanges 34 engaging within the peripheralp'ortion of the rear section. A spring latch 18 secured in the upper portion of the ,rear section and engageable with a downwardly extending projection 50 on theupper inside of the upper front section serves to re- ,the latter in position, the latch being releasable by a suitabletoolto permit removal of the upper front section, as, shown in Figures 1 and 2 g Qnthe inner surface of the upper front section or door 3Z is ja, vertically; extending rib 8, which may have any convenient shape for reception in the V-shaped groove 10 of the soap bar 9, shown in Figure 8 of the drawing. The rib 8 may, for instance, be generally V-shaped, or may be shaped as shown herein. In either event, section 37 is provided further, at least adjacent its lower end, with a y-shaped projection 7 dimensioned for reception in the groove 10 of the soap bar, and the lower section 3 of the casing may also be provided with a projection 6, also dimensioned to extend into the V-shaped groove in the flhe cutter, indicated generally at 19, is mounted on a shaft 20 which is received in cooperating recesses in the adjacent edges of the casing sections 1 and 3, whereby it may be readily removed on removal of the section 3, and is provided with a crank 21, extending exteriorly of the casing, for effecting rotation of the cutter. Mounted in spaced axial relation on shaft 2 are a plurality of cutting elements. Each element may comprise a circular having a plurality of radial cuts in its periphery to provide separate cutting sectors, which are twisted as shown, so that the circumferential edges of sectors, which may be serrated or roughened, are disposed in planes angularly related to shaft 20. The form of the cutter may vary widely, and the instant invention is not conc'er'ned with the details thereof, excepting in combination with other elements of the dispenser.

The pressure feed'mechanism for forcing the soap bar 9 downwardly against the cutter 19 may comprise a feed pan 11, provided in its front edge with a generally V- 'shaped notch 29 to enable it to clear projections 6 and 7, thepan being urged downwardly by a tension spring 15, having its upper end secured to the lower'side of the pan .11a'nd its lower end anchored in a plate 16 which is seated in'the lower part of the rear casing section 1. The pan 11 hasiajrearward extension 14 to which is secured a finger hook 33 to facilitate lifting the pan against the tension of "spring 15. A channel member 17, which may be formed integrally with hook 33, projects through an opening 44 in the rear of the casing and is provided exteriorly with ears 42, which engage the rear face of the casing. Guide lugs 12 extend upwardly at each side of the forward portion of the pan 11 and engage with the forward faces of ribs 13 of section 1 of the casing. It will thus be perceived that the pan is adequately supported for 'verticalsliding movement in the rear section of the casing and,'when lifted by finger hook '33 to its upper position against the tension of spring 15, will permit the insertion beneath the same of a bar of soap. When the pan is released, it bears against the upper end of the soap bar, urging it downwardly against the cutter 19.

Projecting forwardly from the rear wall of the rear section 1 of the casing is a pair of vertically disposed guide ribs 39, substantially rectangular in horizontal section, and dimensioned for reception in correspondingly shaped recesses 23 in the rear face of the soap bar, as shown in Figure 8. As hereinbefore described, the soap bar is guided in a straight path by the ribs 39 and canting of the soap bar with resulting loss of soap through improper feeding of the last fragment is avoided. Accurate and complete shredding of the soap is thus achieved regardless of the direction in which the cutter is rotated, and even though the cutter may be merely oscillated to and fro.

Preferably theribs 39 are formed 'as shown in the drawings to provide shoulders 38 which are engaged by the rear face of the downwardly extending lug 28 on the rear end of pan extension .14 toprovide, in conjunction with the ears 42, adequate guiding of the pan for vertical displacement, even in the absence of guidelugs 12.

It will be perceived, therefore, that the invention provides a rectangular soap bar which may be accurately guided in a predetermined linear path against a rotary cutter of the type illustrated, having its axis transverse to the direction in which 'the soap is fed, to the end that effective andeconomical use of substantially the entire so'ap bar'may'be achieved.

While it is preferred that the deep groove in one face of, the bar be V-shaped and that th'eparallel shallow recesses-in the opposite face of the bar be substantially rectangular in transverse section, 'it will be appreciated that modification of the configuration either of the deep groove or the shallow-recesses, or both, may be effected if desired, without sacrifice of the guiding etfect. Any such modification requires, of-course, comparable modification of the configuration of the guiding structures of the dispenser.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A-rectangular soap bar for use in a shredding dispenser, said bar having in one face thereof a relatively deep groove, and'in theopposite face a pair of parallel shallow recesses, said groove and recesses extending lengthwise of the bar, saidgroove having its deepest portion located centrally of the width of the face in which it is formed, and said recesses being disposed one at each side of the central portion of the face in which they are formed.

2. A soap bar as described in claim 1 in which said recesses are substantially rectangular in transverse section and extend over the full length of the face of the bar in which they are formed.

3. A soapbar as described in claim 1 in which the deep groove is \lshaped in-transverse section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 824,154 Shaver June 26, 1906 999,211 Dilg et al Aug. 1, 1911 2,011,129 Voorhist; Aug. 13, 1935 

1. A RECTANGULAR SOAP BAR FOR USE IN A SHREDDING DISPENSER, SAID BAR HAVING IN ONE FACE THEREOF A RELATIVELY DEEP GROOVE, AND IN THE OPPOSITE FACE A PAIR OF PARALLEL SHALLOW RECESSES, SAID GROOVE AND RECESSES EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE BAR, SAID GROOVE HAVING ITS DEEPEST PORTION LOCATED CENTRALLY OF THE WIDTH OF THE FACE IN WHICH EACH SIDE OF THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE FACE IN WHICH THEY ARE FORMED. 